Canada Secures Semifinal Spot with Overtime Victory Against Czechia in Men’s Hockey

Team Canada has officially secured a semifinal position in the Milano Cortina 2026 men’s hockey tournament after a thrilling overtime victory over Czechia. The match concluded with a score of 4-3, held at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 18, 2026.

Canada’s Path to Victory

Despite being a top-ranked team in the preliminary rounds, Canada faced challenges against Czechia, trailing twice during the game. Mitch Marner emerged as the hero, scoring the game-winning goal just 1:22 into overtime. Macklin Celebrini, Nathan MacKinnon, and Nick Suzuki were the other key contributors, each scoring during regulation time.

Key Contributions and Game Statistics

• Mitch Marner: Scored the overtime game-winner.
• Macklin Celebrini: Opened the scoring at 3:05.
• Nathan MacKinnon: Tied the game with a power-play goal.
• Nick Suzuki: Scored to tie the game 3-3 with 3:27 left.
• Connor McDavid: Recorded two assists, bringing his tournament total to 11 points.
• Jordan Binnington: Earned the win as goaltender.

Before this match, Canada had convincingly defeated Czechia 5-0 in their opening game of the tournament. Czechia’s path included a record of 1-1-1 in the preliminary round and a win over Denmark in the qualifying stages.

Game Highlights

The game’s dynamics shifted frequently. Celebrini scored early, but Czechia responded with goals from Lukas Sedlak and David Pastrnak, taking a 2-1 lead. Incidents such as Cale Makar hitting a post and MacKinnon scoring during a power play kept the momentum swinging.

With just over seven minutes remaining in the third period, Czechia took their final lead at 3-2. However, Suzuki’s goal ensured that the matchup would continue beyond regulation time.

Looking Ahead: Semifinals and Medal Prospects

Canada’s victory sets them up for a matchup against the lowest remaining seed in the semifinals scheduled for Friday. This marks Canada’s first appearance in the Olympic men’s hockey semifinal since the 2018 PyeongChang Games.

The upcoming matches will culminate in the bronze medal game on Saturday at 2:40 p.m. ET and the gold medal game on Sunday at 8:10 a.m. ET. Coach Jon Cooper emphasized the unpredictability of the tournament, stating, “Winning this tournament is never guaranteed.” Canada aims to continue building on their recent success and secure a medal in Milano Cortina 2026.